The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-09-23


Scheme of Robbery. but spring-Gun
and Clerks Nerve Wipe Them Out.
In the fall OF 1866 l was employed rs
n clerk in general store at a cross
roads in Southern Indiana. The store,
a church and blacksmith shop, with
residences, made up the buildings, and
the families of the merchant and black
smith were the only residents. The
country about was quickly settled up
on, however, and trade was ALWAYS
good. Before the merchant engaged
he announced that l would have to
sleep in the store nights. and that I'M
less l had pluck enough to defend the
place against marauders he did not
want ME at any price. He showed me
n shot gun. a revolver and SPRING
gun, which were used, or on hand to
be used to defend the place, and the
windows were protected with stout
blinds and the doors by double locks.
The close of the war had driftcd bad
population into Indiana. The high
ways were full of tramps, and there
were hundreds of men who had deter
mined to make q living by some other
means than labor. Several attempts
had been made to rob the store.
and it had come to that pass that
no clerk wanted to sleep there
alone. The merchant seemed satisfied
with the answers gave him, and on a
certain Monday morning l went to
work. That same night store about
four miles off was broken into and
robbed and the clerk seriously wound
ed. Two nights later three horses were
stolen in our neighborhood. At the
end of the week farmer who was on
his way from our store was robbed on
the highway. If had not been a ght
sleeper from habit these occurrences
would have tended toprevent too lengthy
dreams us l lay in my little bedroom at
the front of the second story. The re-
volver was always placed under my
pillow and the shotgun stood within
reach. The spring-gnn was set about
midway of the floor. 1t was a double
barreled shotgun, each barrel cor tain
ing big charge of buck-shot, and the
man who kicked the string and dis
charged the weapon would never know
what hurt him. 1t did not seem pos
sible that any one could break into the
store without arousing me. There was
Il 10 nd oft ha
PIE in the neighborhoed had gone to
bed could hear the slightest noise in
the store. l had looked the place over
for weak spot and had failed to find
it, but my own confidence came near
proving my destruction. l should
have told You. in describing the store,
that just over the spot where we set
the spring-gun was an opening through
which we hoisted and lowered such
goods as were stored for time on the
second floor When not in use this
opening was covered by trap door.
Toward evening oil the tenth day of
my clerkship. hoisted up a lot of pals
and tubs. and had just finished when
trade became SO brisk that was called
to wait on customers. Later on saw
that had left the trap-door open. and
/ said to myself that would let it 60
until l went 10 bed. The store had the
only burglar-proof safe for miles
around, and it was customary for the
farmer who b.ld one hundred dollars
or So, to leave it with us. He received
an envelope in which to inclose it, and
he could take ont and put in as he
liked. On this evening four or five
farmers came in to deposit. and, as
9sterward figured up. we had about
SSI 800 in the safe.
There were two strange faces in the
crowd chat evening. One belonged to
a roughly-dressed. evil-eyed man. who
announced himself TO be drover. and
the other professional tramp. l gave
the latter piece of tobacco and some
crackers and cheese, and he soon went
away, and We were so busy up to nine
O'Clock that l had not give the drover
much attention. When we came to shut
up the store he had gone from my mind
altogether. We counted up the cash.
made some charges in the day-book,
and it was about ten o'clock when the
merchant left l was tired out and
took a candle and made the circuit of
the store. set the spring-gun. and went
to the trap door as l went.to my room.
but did not see it 1t was rather
chilly night in October and we had no
fires yet. and as l got under the
blankets the warmth was so grateful
that fsoor fell asleep. Itwas the first
might that had gone to bed without
thinking ofrobbers and wondering how
] should act in case any came in.
did no: know when fell asleep.
suddenly found myself half-upright in
bed. and there was an echo in the store
as if the fall of something had aroused
me. 1t was one o'clock, and had
been asleep almost three hours Lean
ing on my elbow. l strained my ears
60 catch the sichtest sound, and after